PRCC designated as Fit-Friendly by Heart Association

Press Release Archive

POPLARVILLE - Pearl River Community College recently received Fit-Friendly Company Recognition from the American Heart Association.The program recognizes employers who champion the health of their employees and work to create a culture of physical activity and health in the workplace. Tara Rouse, director of the PRCC Wellness Center, completed the college’s application for the designation. Among the items she listed were the physical fitness assessments for students that are also available for faculty, staff and community members of the Wellness Center and the $286,270 Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation grant that allowed purchase of new Wellness Center equipment and construction of an outdoor track. “I told them about the exercise records that are available for all our employees - Fast Track for faculty and staff,” Rouse said. “Any of our employees who reach 40 workouts gets a prize.” Employees who work out 15 times during the spring semester get free summer semester membership and those with 20 workouts get the fall semester free, she said. “We have an indoor walking track plus we’re building an outdoor one,” she said. “Our campus cafeteria always offers healthy options. Nutritional information is available on request on all items offered in our cafeteria.” The Wellness Center will sponsor a Heart Association Heart Walk on April 25. Dr. Adam Breerwood, vice president for the Poplarville campus and Hancock Center, accepted the award at a meeting at the Great Southern Club in Gulfport. “We were recognized along with several other companies as a Fit-Friendly company,” he said.